A penthouse at Coleherne Court in London's Earls Court has been put up for sale, and it comes with one of the most storied addresses in the capital. The red-brick mansion block is famous as the place where Lady Diana Spencer lived before she married Prince Charles in 1981, sharing a flat there with three flatmates while she worked as a nursery assistant. For royal watchers, this is the neighbourhood where Diana's public life quietly began.
Coleherne Court itself is a grand Victorian block on The Little Boltons, just off Old Brompton Road. It has long been sought after for its generous lateral flats, high ceilings and leafy gardens, all sitting between Earl's Court and Gloucester Road. Properties here rarely come cheap; large flats in the block have historically sold for millions of pounds, and sales attract attention precisely because of the Diana connection. Photographers once staked out the building in the early 1980s, and the corner flat where she lived remains a pilgrimage stop for fans of royal history.
For travellers, the appeal is less about buying property and more about the area around it. Earls Court has shed its dated backpacker image and is now one of west London's more interesting bases: you're a short walk from the museums of South Kensington, the Design Museum in Holland Park is nearby, and the Piccadilly and District lines put central London within twenty minutes. The Troubadour, a legendary music venue and café on Old Brompton Road, has been hosting acts since the 1950s and pairs nicely with a wander past Coleherne Court itself.
The sale is a reminder of how much of London's royal and cultural history hides in ordinary-looking residential streets. You don't need a multimillion-pound budget to experience it — a walk through Earl's Court, a pint at a local pub and a detour to see the blue-plaqued corners of this part of the Royal Borough gets you the same stories for free.
Whether you're a Diana fan planning a London itinerary or simply hunting a quieter alternative to the usual tourist strips, this corner of west London rewards a slow wander. Keep it on your list next time you're in the city.
